Pressing and smoothing device



(No Model.)

\ M. MERCY.

PRESSING AND SMOOTHING DEVICE.

' No. 594,887. Patented Dec.7, 1897.

l llml 5 Amnulllnlw E i w 0 0 I: 0 E 0 1' Nrrnn STATES ATEN- PRESSING AND S MO OTHING DEVICE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 594,887, dated December '7, 1897.

Application filed January 4, 1897. Serial No. 617,968. (No model.)

To all whom zit may concern.- v

Be it known that I, MEYER MERCY, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Newark, in the county of Essex and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Pressing and Smoothing Devices, of which the following is a specification.

Generally stated, the invention consists in a hollow box or body part of the device, in the under side of which slots or openings are made within which revolve rollers projecting into the interior of the hollow body and also projecting beyond its exterior surface, so that the rollers onlycome in contact with the goods being operated upon, and the rollers are made of such size and shape as practically to fill the slots or openings in the body part, so that the heat within it shall be confined and not useles'sly dissipated through openings between the rollers. Also, the rollers are connected with the body part by peculiarly-constructed ball-bearings which are made in such manner that the size and width of the device is reduced as much as possible, and more particularly its exterior surface is made as smooth as possible, there being no moving or projecting parts upon its exterior which would be likely to injure the fabric being operated upon or the trimming or other parts of it. I employ ball-bearings of such construction that friction is practically done away with, so that there is no drawing action on the fiber of the material or goods, andthese bal1-bearings are of a special construction invented by me, whereby the weight of the total structure is not appreciably increased, and there are no moving or projecting parts upon the exterior thereof which might injure the fabric being operated upon or its trimming.

I call especial attention to the fact that the use of ball-bearings as embodied in my invention is essentially different from their use between moving surfaces generally, because in them no thought is had ofv any effect upon the surface over which the device passes or of any adjacent parts-such as trimming, ornamentation, and the likebut is limited to the question of power required to move the device itself. In this present case, however, the problem to be solved is relative to the surface rolled upon and not to the article rolling upon it.

I also wish it to be understood that certain features of my invention are equally valuable whether the device be heated by-self-contained devices or not.

In the drawings, Figure 1 illustrates a perspective View of the under side of a handiron, showing the rollers in position. Fig. 2 illustrates a vertical longitudinal sectional view of that which is shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 illustrates a longitudinal sectional View of a machine-iron adapted to be operated mechanically. Fig. 4 illustrates a hatters iron in vertical section, showing one roller only. Fig. 5 illustrates the details of the form of ballbearing preferred by me.

Referring to Figs. 1, 2, and 5-, A is the body part or frame, and B the handle, of an ordinary antoheatin g fiat-iron.

0 indicates the gas-inlet, and D the exits for the products of combustion. These parts are not shown in detail, since they are now well understood. Gas, electricity, or any other heating means may be employed.

E, F, and G are three rollers, which may be supported on bearings on the body partA in any suitable manner; but I prefer to support them on ball-bearings and in the manner shown best in Figs. 1 and 5, in which H H are arms or plates secured to the sides of the body part, as by screws or bolts I I. Their lower ends are preferably made of substantially the same area as the end of the rollers, respectively, and a case-hardened or equivalent stud J is centrally located at or near the end of each arm, which rests axially Within a reentrant cavity K in each end of each roller, so as to leave a chamber for the reception of the balls or rollers M, which are seated outwardly against the flange N of the rollers and inwardly against the studs J. The rollers are so located as to project more or less beyond the face of the body part 'A, and they extend through slots or openings 0, made in the body part, and project interiorly, thus coming into direct contact with the. heating medium therein. These rollers may be of such shape as the special work to be done requires. For example, in Fig. 1 the roller E is cylindrical from end to end, the rollerF is mostly cylindrical and its ends are chamfered ofi, thus avoiding abrupt terminal lines, and the roller G is markedly convex, so as to conform in shape and uses to the rounded nose of an ordinary flat-iron; also, the rollers may be solid, as E F, or hollow, as G.

In Fig. 3 the invention is illustrated as applied to a reciprocating mechanical iron or smoothing device. In this figure 1 letter the several parts the same as before, and no further description is necessary, excepting to call attention to the fact that by multiplying the number of rollers and providing them with my peculiarly-constructed ball-bearin gs I secure a very efiicient implement and one in which the heat within the frame is practioally confined therein and utilized for heating the rollers, and, as seen in Figs. 1 and 5, the exterior of the device will be smooth and free from parts which will be likely to injure the goods.

It will be understood that this device is to be or may be operated bysuitably constructed and arranged levers or arms, which are not illustrated, since they are now well known and form no part of the invention.

In Fig. 4 the invention is illustrated as applied to a hatters iron. In this figure also the parts are lettered as before and are sufficiently explained. Attention is, however, called to the presence of one roller only in this form, and that it, the same as in the other cases, practically closes the opening in the bottom of the frame through which it works, thus retaining the heat. Since hatters irons are usually held by suitable mechanical devices in proper position relative to the hat-bod y, one roller can be used. If preferred, however, two or more may be employed even for hatters work, especially if the iron be manually operated. Indeed a single roller may be used in all instances if proper care be exercised in its use.

It will be obvious to those who are familiar with this art that changes may be made in the special details shown without departing from the essentials of the invention. I therefore do not limit myself in any such respect.

I claim- 1. I11 an ironing device, a hollow frame or body part provided with devices for interiorly heating the same, and one or more rollers journaled thereto, and which are located in slots or openings therein which they practically close, which rollers alone come in contact with the goods, for the purposes set forth.

2. In an ironing device, a body part having rollers which are axially recessed at their ends, plates attached to the body part, a stud at the outer end of each plate, adapted to enter said recesses in said rollers, and anti friction-balls in the space between the stud and the walls of the recesses in the rollers, for the purposes set forth.

Signed at New York, in the county of New York and State of New York, this 30th day of December, A. D. 1896.

MEYER MERCY.

Witnesses:

PHILLIPS ABBOTT, A. BoDINn MORRISON. 

